Movable stairway.



No. 783,769. 7 PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905- W. J. WRIGHT. I

MOVABLE STAIRWAY. APPLIOATION FILED MAY ZO, 1904.

2 SHBIITS-SHBET 1.

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I I A BY WW f MM v m 9 5 No. 783,769. PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. W. J.WRIGHT. MOVABLE LSTAIRWAY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES.

rrnn .Fnrariss Illatented Febru y 1905" lPJtlFlEltll tl rricia WILLIAMJ. l VRIGIll, ()F FRANKlJlN, ltl lhh biYlJVANli-i, AStllHNUlt ()F ONE-HALF TO Plf'll'lill ENGELSKlRGl llt, OF FltANlrlLlN, PENNSYld ANlil.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 83,7639, datedFebruary 28, 1905.

Application filed May 20, 190d. Serial No. 208,954.

To (M115 w/tmn, it IIMI/Z/ cancer/1 Be it known that l, VVILLIAM J. XVmar-r1, residing at Franklin, in the county of Venango and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and lniproved Ylovable Stai rway,ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of movablestairways in which is embodied end less-conveyer devices that impart alift movement to certain parts that are automatieally flexed or changedin their position to form stair treads and risers; and my said inventionseeks to provide an improved stairlift or movable stairway of thecharacter stated of a simple and economical construction that isoperable with a maximum degree of safety under a uniform and regularmotion with a minimum expenditure of power, that is entirely noiselessin its action, and which will effectively serve its intended purposes.

My invention in its generic nature comprehends an endless conveyorformed wholly of a flexible material and having a portion thereof socombined and cooperatively arranged with the remaining portion wherebywhen ascending or descending it flexes or changes its shape into risersand tread portions at points between the drive-pulleys, and when passingover the said pulleys the two portions assume the shape, as it were, ofa single belt-section adapted to frictionally engage the drive-pulleysand in such a positive manner whereby severe and irregular strain on thecomplete endless conveyer is positively overcome.

My invention also comprehends an endless convcyer formed of two bands ofdifferent lengths that are wholly flexible, the one overlapping theother, with the outer overlapping or longer one joined with the inner orshorter band in such a manner as to assume a superimposed position withrespect to the inner or shorter band as it passes over the drive-pulleysand to buckle up at points between the said pulleys to form stair-riserand tread members.

Again, this invention embodies a two-band endless conveyer of flexiblematerial their entire length, the enter one having such connection withthe inner one whereby it assumes a perfectly flat position against itsmate as it passes over the drim-pulleys and buckles into a series ofstair-risers and tread members as the two bands move in a straight lineand in which the said conneetionsz'ue such as to permit of readilyjoining the outer hand to the inner in a manm r to suit the height andwidth of the riser and tread portions desired.

in its more subordinate features my invention also consists in certaindetails of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of whichwill be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is alongitudinal section, part being in elevation, of a portion of my movingstairway. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sideelevation of my iln 'n'ovedstairway. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of so much of my improved movablestairway as is shown in Fig. l. Fig. at is a cross-section of the sameon the line t a of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a slightlymodiliedform of the conveyor-belt. Fig. (3 is a detail view of a portion of theouter band-section, and Fig. 7 is a detail view which illustrates oneway of thickening the outer belt at a point where it joins the innerbelt to increase the length of the said outer belt and the height andwidth of the riser and tread portions thereof.

In the accompanying drawings l have illustrated the general applicationof my invention, and in the said drawings A designates an upper landingor platform between the ascending and descending portions of the stairway, and 1- ll indicate the lower floor-sew tions at the lower entrantand exit ends of the stairway. Located directly under the entrant andexit ends u. (1 of the upper lloor or plat form A are drive-pulleys U(1, over which the endless coru eyer passes, the peculiar constructionof which forms the essential feature of this invention, and the saidrollers are smooth, whereby to frictiomrlly engage with the conveyer itAt suitable points under the lower lioorsection l5 it are mounted a pairof guide and drive pulleys l f" if.

C designates an idler-pulley located under the platform A midwaythereof. This pulley acts a guide for the endless conveyer I) and alsoas a means for sagging the upper central or loop portion D of the saidconveyer, whereby to hold the conveyer in a tight frictional engagementwith the oppositely-disposed pulleys C C.

The conveyer D in my construction of moving stairway is composed of apair of endless flat bands, an inner one (Z and an outer one cl, thelatter being of a length sufliciently greater than that of the inner orshort one whereby when passing over the several power and guide pulleysthe two bands have a superimposed relation and form, as it were, asingle belt portion that firmly grips and en gages the periphery of theseveral pulleys G C C C and flexes in such a manner so the conveyer Dlies smoothly upon and in a plane perfectly concentric with the axis ofthe several pulleys over which the conveyer passes. This automaticflexing or adjusting of the outer band member of the conveyer withrespect to the inner or shorter band eflects very advantageous resultsin that the several pulleys over which the conveyer passes are locatedclose up to the edges of the platform and the floor-sections, and theconveyer is thereby allowed to run smooth and close up to the said edgesof the opening in the upper and lower floors, so as to entirely closethe gaps that would appear between the conveyer and the floor edges werethe several rollers mounted away from the edges of the flooropenings,thereby making it impossible for passengers, especially children,getting their feet between the conveyer and the floor edges adjacent tothe said conveyer. The two bands that constitute the conveyer D are of asuitable material wholly flexible throughout the length and breadththereof, and in practice I prefer to use heavyrubber belting; but thesaid conveyer may be formed of leather, canvas, or other flexiblematerial, or the outer band-section of the conveyor may be composed of athin metallic band having suitable outer covering, as shown in Fig. 5.

The idler-pulley C has sprocket-like projections 4, so spaced that theywill take in the angle or depressions :0 formed at those portions of theouter band e where the tread and riser members thereof merge, said formof idler being preferably provided to insure a regular guiding of theconveyer and forholding it taut against the drive-rollers C C, and inpractice the said idler may be held springpressed against the conveyer.

In the practical application of my invention the conveyer D is arrangedto run between side guides 12 12, that are supported upon brackets 1515, secured to the platform and floor sections in a suitable manner andto sustain the stair-shaped or flexed portion of the conveyer-band as itpasses over one guidepulley to the other, ascending or descending theouter band d at intervals midway the points where the said band istacked or otherwise secured to the inner band, has lateral projections,which may he in the nature of rods 13, as shown in the drawings, securedin any suitable manner upon the inner face of the outer band cl. Afterpassing over the drivepulleys the lateral projections 13 engage withstraight grooves 12, formed in the side guides 12, (see Fig. 4,) and tofacilitate the travel of the said projections they are equipped withfriction-rollers 12. To further sustain the conveyer-belt in itsadjusted position while travelingon the upper or down inclines, Iprovide a series of rollers 14, that are mounted upon rods 14:, whichextend transversely from one guide 12 to the other and are so disposedthat the rollers 14 thereof engage the under side of the inner bandmember (Z. To aid in the proper flexing of the outer band portion into astair shape when passing in a straight line from one guide-roller to theother, the said outer-band at points in line with the projections 13 isgrooved transversely, as at d, whereby to thin the band (Z at suchpoints to increase the flexibility thereof centrally between the pointwhere the outer and the inner bands (Z (Z are rigidly connected, and tofurther increase the flexibility of the outer band-section it may alsobe formed with transverse grooves rZ at each side of the points where itis joined with the inner band, as clearly shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings, it is believed the complete operation andadvantages of my invention will be readily understood.

It is manifest that by reason of the conveyer being formed of an endlessmember flexible contm uously from end to end and comprising, as it were,two portions, an outer and an inner, joined in the manner stated, thatin going around the drive and guide pulleys the two portions of the beltact as one belt and adapt themselves to firmly and smoothly grip theguide and drive pulleys, and when the conveyer (Z is traveling in astraight line either ascending or descending or under other conditionswhere the conveyer (Z passes straight over one pulley to the other theouter band portion of the said pulley buckles up or flexes to the stairshape.

1 prefer to use a rubber cloth-covered belt, as it provides for anoiseless conveyer, and such material is also desirable since it forms afirm base upon which to stand without danger of slipping. I desire itunderstood that the outer belt-section may be formed of an outermetallic band, having an outer covering or layer of rubber or othersimilar yielding but flexible material, the band portion and cover beingmade fast to the inner band portion in a manner similar to that shown inthe other form of my invention.

To increase the height and width of the riser and tread portions formedby the opening of the outer band portion (Z, it is only necessary tothicken the outer belt-section at the point where it is tacked orotherwise secured to the inner band portion, as ilh'istrated in Fig. 7.The thickening at the said point may be produced by thickening the outerband at such points or by adc ling wedge portions ol wood or. othermaterial between the inner and outer band portions at the said points.By increasing the thickness of the outer band at the points stated itwill be noticed that the bending-line of the said outer band is at agreater distance radially from the axis drive-pulleys, and since thediameter of the outer band-section (Z is thus increased the length ofthe outer band is proportionately increased and the stairriser and treadportions are thereby length ened. The guide members 12 in practice, maybe readily utilized for sustaining the hand and guard rails, as shown inFig. 2.

I am aware that stair-lifts have been provided in which the conveyor isformed of a flexible member produced by joining a series oil links thatcan be flexed not only at the pivotpoints to form the tread and risers,but also between the said points, and I also am aware that stair-liftmechanisms have heretofore been provided in which the flexible sectionsof the conveyor have pivoted or lateral bearing members for engagingwith lixed guides that serve to properly flex the Llli'lOlGIliJ portions of the conveyor and also sustain the said flexed portion in theirstair-shape positions.

My invention differentiates from what has heretofore been provided inthis art, so far as I know, in the construction of the conveyor, whichin my case consists of a continurms unbroken endless flexible member, aportion of which is adapted when traveling in a straight line betweenthe guide or drive pulleys to automatically buckle up into a stair shapeas the remaining portion thereof maintains its stair or endless-beltshape. My invention also differs from what has heretofore been provided,so far as 1 know, in the providingof an endless conveyer, which consistsof an inner and an outer hand, both of which are flexed continuouslytheir entire length, the enter one of which is longer than the inner andjoined with the inner in such manner that in passing over the drive andguide pulleys it assumes a superimposed relation with respect to theinner band portion, whereby to provide, as it were, a solid and smoothboltsection'i'or taking around the pulleys and which at a point betweenthe pulleys automatically assumes the desired angular or stair shape.

\lVhile I prefer to make the conveyor of a yielding body, like rubbercloth, whereby to l l l i I render the operation oi my improvedstairway'practically a noiseless one, .l. desire to state that withinthe scope of the appended claims my invention may be modified withoutdeparting from the scope of the .said claims by making the outerbelt-section entirely of metallic link members joined to the inner beltin a manner similar to that shown in the drawings and heretoforedescribed and adapted when passing up or down the inclines toautomatically buckle up and form the necessary stair shapes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is--- l. In a movable-stairway mechanism of thecharacter described; an endless carrying-belt composed of a flexiblematerial throughout, means for driving the same, the said belt includinga portion adapted to automatically flex to form treads and risers whentraveling in a straight line, for the purposes specified.

2. in a stairway as described, in combination with a plurality ofsupporting-pulleys; of a conveyor supported upon the said pulleyscomposed of an endless member composed of flexible material throughoutits entire length and. having a portion adapted to flex to form treadsand risers when traveling in a straight line, for the purposesspecified.

3. In a movable stairway ot' the character stated, the combinatioi'iwith a plurality of supporting-pulleys, one or both of which are driven,of an endless conveyer that takes around the said pulleys which consistsof a body composed of flexible material throughout its entire length andhaving a portion adapted to flex to form treads and risers whentraveling in a straight line, and a means for firmly sustaining theflexed portions as they pass from one pulley to the other, for thepurposes specilied.

In a stairway of the character described, the combination with aplurality of pulleys one or more of which may be driven; of an endlessconveyer that takes around said pulleys which consists of anuninterriu'ied band composed of flexible material throughout its entirelength and havinga portion adapted to flex to form treads and risers asit moves in a straight line, means for sustaining that portion of theband not flexed, and a slujJporting means for sustaining the otherportion in its flexed position, for the purposes specified.

5. In a moving stairway ol the character described; the eombination withsuitable drivepulleys; of an endless conveyer wholly flexible its entirelength, said conveyor consisting of a pair of bands having superimposedrelation, the outer band being transversely secured to the inner band atsuitable intervals and adapted to automatically flex into stair shapesbetween. the points of connection when the conveyor is traveling in astraight line as set forth.

6. In a movable stairway of the character stated; the combination withsuitable drivepulleys; of an endless conveyer wholly flexible its entirelength and consisting of a pair of bands having a superimposed relation,the outer band being transversely connected to the inner band atsuitable intervals and provided with undercut grooves midway thepointsof connection with the inner band, substantially as shown.

7. In a moving stairway of the character described; the combination Withsuitable drivepulleys; of an endless conveyer wholly flexible its entirelength, said conveyer consisting of a pair of bands having asuperimposed relation, the outer band being transversely connected tothe inner band at suitable intervals, and provided with undercut groovesat each side of the points of connection with the inner band, for thepurposes specified.

8. In a movable stairway of the character described; the combinationwith upper and ing in a straight line, the flexible portion havinglateral projecting members, the side guides having grooves with whichthe said lateral projecting members engage and transversely-disposedsupports mounted in the said side guides over which the endless conveyerpasses, for the purposes specified.

WILLIAM J. WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

FRED Gr. DIETERIOH, JOHN L. FLETCHER.

